Sapa is renowned for its vibrant green fields and hills, and the postcard-perfect landscapes here make for some world-class trekking trails. From cragged mountain tops to bright rice paddies that tumble into the valley below, you’ll discover diverse beauty here as you breath in the crisp mountain air.
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SAPA
INTRODUCTION TO SAPA
A small mountain town on the Lao Cai Province, Sapa has become hugely popular thanks to its vibrant terraced hills and plunging views, as well as the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, home to Vietnam’s largest peak. Explore this spectacular landscape and you’ll find dramatic panoramas, lush fields and cascading rice terraces, as well as the delicious food you’ve come to expect in rural Vietnam.
FAST FACTS
Language: Vietnamese
Currency: Vietnamese dong
Electricity: 220V
Visas: Click here to see if you need a visa to travel to Vietnam.
Dialing Code: +84
Time Zone: (GMT+07:00)
ABOUT CONTIKI
From quick breaks to epic journeys, Contiki exists to connect young travellers with the time of their lives.
See more about ContikiTHINGS TO DO IN
Go hiking to the lush green hills
Explore the local villages
There’s plenty of fascinating villages and ethnic groups to discover in Sapa. To the southwest is Lao Chai village of the H'mong people, who live in the beautiful terraced fields. By the Muong Hoa stream you’ll find the charming Lao Chai, while Ta Van sits in the valley and is occupied by the Giay ethnic communities. The best way to stay in Sapa is in a homestay, where you can meet the locals and enjoy delicious Vietnamese food, washed down with rice wine.
Have a drink at Cafe in the Clouds
Come for the view, stay for the food at this unique cafe, looking out on Sapa’s soaring valleys. Drinking a hot cocoa and enjoying rich pho on a bracing Sapa morning as you watch the sun stretch over the hills is one of life’s purest pleasures.
Join a H’mong Sewing Class
The H’mong people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Sapa. H’mong women are known to be equal in status to H’mong men, and are famed for their skill with arts and crafts. Learn about the H’mong way of life with a local sewing class, before having the chance to purchase some artisan goodies for yourself.
Hike Fan Si Pan (or don’t)
Known as the ‘roof of Indochina’, Fan Si Pan is a summit packed with viewpoints. Take the 3 day hike if you’re looking for a rewarding trek, or, if you want the views without all that effort, take the recently constructed cable car and do it in a single, 15 minute journey.
Walk to Silver Waterfalls
Thac Bac or the Silver Falls area short drive from Sapa City, located in the misty forestlands overlooking Fan Si Pan. Large and picturesque, these falls are some of the most beautiful in Vietnam, and as you watch the silvery waters cascade down the Ham Rong mountains you’ll be transported to a prehistoric world.
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FOOD IN SAPA
Trout cooked in ash
Ash has been used for cooking in South East Asia for hundreds of years, and gives these trout fillets a mouthwatering, smoky finish.
Best eaten at - Hill Station Signature Restaurant
Thang Co hot pot
This hot pot is a rich broth with blood soup, vegetables, chicken and lime leaves. Not for the faint hearted, it rewards the curious eater.
Best eaten at - A Quynh Restaurant, 15 Thach Son Street, Sapa Town
Com Lam
Cơm lam, "bamboo cooked rice" is is formed by pressing wet rice, salt and sesame into bamboo tubes. It has a distinct, earthy flavour and is the perfect accompaniment to spiced chicken or boar.
Best eaten at - Sapa Grilling Area, Cau May Street, Sapa Town
Bun Mam
Bun Mam is a spicy, sour seafood broth with shrimp, squid, eggplant and fish, with sprouts, cilantro, mint, and jalapeños. Invigorating and warming, it's the perfect dish for when the temperature drops.
Best eaten at - Hong Tai Restaurant, 751 Dien Bien Phu Street, Sapa Town
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